Christmas townhalls include visit from Santa, calls to action for activists.

MIDLAND -- The Texas chapter of Americans for Prosperity, the nation's foremost grassroots, economic freedom advocate, will hold townhall meetings around the state to spread the word about the bad budget deal before Congress. The next townhall is Friday in Midland.

All I Want for Christmas Is Less Government Spending kicked off the San Antonio area December 11 and will continue Friday in Midland. AFP State Director Peggy Venable will update small-government activists on the problems with the budget deal, which abandons the so-called sequester cuts established in 2011. Santa may also pay a visit, urging members of the Texas delegation to stay off the Naughty List this holiday season. Media welcome to attend (details below).

"Texas taxpayers cannot afford another trillion-dollar backroom deal that increases spending and raises fees on us to boot," said Venable. "With the Budget Control Act of 2011, Congress made a bipartisan promise to get spending in check. Now, many members plan to blow through those spending caps. Texans have had enough of the empty promises-- it's time for Congress."